Photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes with 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline

Abstract  

Five novel lanthanide (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, and Gd³⁺) complexes with 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (phenNO₂) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV, and luminescence spectra. The triplet state energy of phenNO₂ was determined to be 20,048 cm⁻¹ via the phosphorescence spectra of phenNO₂ and its gadolinium complex. The photophysical properties of these complexes indicated that the triplet state energy of the ligand is suitable for the sensitization of the luminescence of Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺, especially the former.